Central African Republic: a survey details the progress of the Wagner group in the country
People dressed in military fatigues in front of Wagner's headquarters in Saint Petersburg on November 4, 2022. AFP - OLGA MALTSEVA
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A new investigation reveals Wagner's growing influence in Africa and his methods of expanding his empire.
Several media, including
Insider
,
Politico
and
Die Welt,
published articles on the paramilitary group thanks to cables from the US government, but also internal documents from the network of Yevgueni Prigojine, the founder of Wagner.
The investigation details in particular its progress in the Central African Republic where Wagner now has thirteen military bases.
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The investigation reveals the underside of Wagner's activities in the Central African Republic.
The ban on overflights of the territory by drones, decided in February, would serve to protect the activities of Wagner in the gold mine of Ndassima, recently enlarged and secured.
The anti-Minusca demonstrations were not
a priori
spontaneous.
The publication of Wagner's invoices would show that the group paid demonstrators, but also a local media - the
Ndjoni Sango
newspaper - in order to amplify the movement.
Facts denied by its director.
The leaks also tell us
of the existence of Project SB, Wagner's internal security services, responsible for covering up his crimes.
Bribes were allegedly paid to hide accusations of rape.
Faced with the growing influence of Moscow, the Americans have multiplied actions in recent months, setting out a roadmap and a strategy to their allies, to African leaders or even to the UN.
The United States reportedly asked peacekeepers if they could monitor Wagner's movements.
They sought partners to put pressure on the power to move away from Moscow, but in January Rwanda reportedly indicated that it could not be the only country in the region trying to convince Bangui.
In Lisbon in January, the Portuguese said they could ultimately remain in the European training mission if Bangui cuts ties with the Russians, but the Central Africans reportedly did not change their position.
In January, Prime Minister Félix Moloua reportedly told Americans that he wanted to work "
with all partners
" and that the country "
would not accept being told who to work with
".
The investigation also mentions other Wagner operations in Africa, without always revealing the details.
The article talks about the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sudan, South Africa, Libya, Burkina Faso and Ghana where a troll factory has been set up for disinformation campaigns in the United States. United.
In Madagascar, the documents also reveal the attempt of Russian influence, in particular online, on the presidential election of 2018.
► To read also: The influence of Russian mercenaries Wagner in the Central African Republic
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